SKY – 04

Chapter 4

Cruntiq said, “Everyone, thank you
for coming here today on such short notice. As well as mobilizing and being so
cooperative with regards to the abrupt and no doubt seemingly strange orders we
gave you this morning.” He paused a moment and looks around the hall.

The conversations quickly died as
the audience shifted their attention to Cruntiq.

“I know everyone has questions as
to what’s been going on recently and why you’ve been going on these unexplained
patrols for the last two months.” He paused again, his words briefly echoing
throughout the spacious dome. “One reason we’ve called this conference tonight
is to discuss this with you all, but before we get to that, I’m sure all of you
know that today’s patrol was by no means standard. And I’m also sure most of
you are aware that one squad did not return from this mornings mission.”

“Unit 144 did not return this
morning… We cannot at this moment say that they are deceased, but having not
heard from them at all today, as well as them falling off the ship tracking
system, we must declare them MIA for the time being. News has already been
delivered to their families just before this gathering.”

Hleis looked over at his friends.
They looked back at him; all mirroring the same solemn look on their face, one
that they were all familiar with.

Since birth they were taught the kingdom
was in a state of war, a kingdom that had been in a state of war for millennia,
a kingdom that had been created for the purpose of war. The feeling of
unexpectedly losing friends, without saying a proper goodbye, was a familiar
one. Through repetition it transformed into am aching feeling of emptiness.

Cruntiq continued, “With that in
mind, for tomorrow we will be doing the same patrol procedure again. All units
are to keep their eyes and radars open for any traces or signs of unit 144,
either for rescue or recovery. We will also be assigning three units to travel
the same direction as 144 tomorrow.”

Before he could continue, someone
yelled from the mid rows of the conference hall, “Where the hell are the mages!
My brother died for this and yet they’re nowhere to be seen!? They don’t even
speak to the people they’re making die for their missions!?”

Murmurs and whispers echoed
throughout the hall.

A few people shouted at Cruntiq,
“Yeah! Where are the mages!?”

“Bring them out here! They owe us
an explanation!”

“They’re orders got four of ours
killed! Make them answer us!”

Cruntiq stood for a moment, before he
turned his eyes at Veindelio.

Veindelio did not return the look
and kept his eyes forward at the crowd the entire time, maintaining a stoic
expression on his face. Cruntiq turned his eyes away, takes a blink and a deep
sigh before stepping up to address the hall once again.

“People, do not forget that we are
a strong group. Our small town has been a pillar of the outer trade routes for
decades due to the strength of the individuals that we consider our neighbors.
We owe it to their strength and skill to not assume them to be dead.”

When Cruntiq spoke the people of
West-Hail listened. The trust they had in him translated to the respect they
showed him when he spoke.

“It’s true. The mages have been out
of sight for the majority of you all, but please remember that they only number
in the twenties while we number in the thousands. I have been in contact with
the captain of the mages, the man many of you saw this morning and the man standing
besides me now.”

From the seats, someone shouts
loudly, “Explain yourself mage!”

This was followed by an assorted
array or “Yeah!” and “C’mon!” All from frustrated soldiers seeking to provoke
an answer from the head of the mages.

Veindelio, unfazed by the provocations,
rather assertively stepped up to the microphone.

He was slightly taller than
Cruntiq, while being exceptionally well built despite being a magical
specialist. He had been on many battlefields from his demeanor. His stature
revealed that could hold his own in close combat with any of the people here.
This was apparent to nearly all the soldiers here just from his calmness alone.
He began speaking.

“Although we may come from
Center-Storm in the heart of our kingdom, do not think that we do not recognize
your strength. As an unfortunate occurrence happened today I owe it you all to
give some context as to why we’re here. The Order of Capital Mages is stretched
thin during these times, and as such deployment of our units is reserved for
critically important tasks. I apologize with all due respect, but we have been
assigned to complete a task in West-Hail. One that we must carry out in secrecy
and that has important implications for our entire kingdom.”

Veindelio looked around to gauge
the atmosphere in the room before continuing, “As Cruntiq pointed out earlier,
there are but a handful of mages here in West-Hail. Our numbers may seem small,
but that is no reason to be concerned. Leadership in the capital is aware of
the competence of West-Hail and decided to not to send any more reinforcements.
It is a testament to your town that official military forces was not deployed
here and that the capital trusts you all to be able to help us accomplish our
task.”

He paused yet again before making
his closing statement. “I thank you for your trust, and I promise that all will
be clear in time. The role that you play will be crucial for the success of our
kingdom.”

Murmurs yet again filled the room.
Cruntiq stepped up this time and addressed the group. “Everyone, Veindelio and
I will remain in this hall for a while longer. If you have questions we’ll try
to answer the ones we can. Everyone else is dismissed for the night. I’ll see
everyone tomorrow.”

Traer turned to Hleis and co. and
says, “I’ll stay for a bit, I have a few questions I want to ask. You guys head
on home. You need the rest since you’ll all be heading out tomorrow. I’ll stay
since I don’t patrol and update you guys tomorrow.”

“Only if we make it back,” Maltii
says with a slightly sarcastic disdain for the situation in general.

“Was that it? That’s all they had
to say? What was even the point of this meeting?” Vayling exclaimed.

“Good luck Traer,” Hleis said.

***

The next morning carried on
smoothly but with a more serious tone than the day before. Supplies were packed
onto the ships, the units gathered, and preparations were made in an almost
silent atmosphere.

The defense force of West-Hail now knew
there was real danger in the skies, confirmed by the existence of a missing
squad. They also were aware that they were alone and that whatever they found,
they would have to deal with it on their own.

For Hleis, Vayling and Maltii, this
was especially true as they presumably lost a good friend. Flask pulled their
ship out of port and begun the patrol with a solemn but serious mood permeating
the trip.

The patrol was uneventful that day.
The squad kept their eyes on their surroundings and the radar, but nothing out
of the ordinary was spotted.

They reached the end of their four
and a half hours going outwards away from West-Hail.

On their way back, Vayling said to
Hleis and Maltii, “You know, after the conference yesterday I was almost
expecting us to run into something today. Honestly kind of surprised that we
ended up fine especially since Tyrize did not…”

Hleis jumped in, “Vay, think about
it, of course we were going to be fine. There’s a reason they sent three squads
out in the same direction squad 144 went in. We should focus on returning
safely and preparing for whatever it is that those three groups found.”

Flask interjected, “Aye Hleis,
that’s why they sent out three groups after all. They didn’t send them all out
at once too I hear. Gave them the fastest ships and staggered them. Make sure
that at least one of them makes it back to town to report.”

“Despite what the fancy mage said
yesterday, we are still just a local militia. Gah, how worried do you think our
families and the other townsfolk are right now after all that’s been going on?”
Maltii exclaimed exasperated.

***

It was just before sunset when
Hleis’ squad returned from their patrol. They weren’t the first group to
return, nor would they be the last. Pulling into port, the tension in the air
was palpable as nearly every unit was on edge, waiting on word of the three
units sent out in 144’s direction. The last communication was received around
midday, and none of the three groups had yet returned.

Hleis and Vayling left port
together on their way to the town hall to meet with Traer and Vayling’s father.
Both were hoping to see if any information about Tyrize surfaced today. Outside
of the docks, there was an unfamiliar sense of disorder about. Civilians were
running about in a chaotic fashion, clearly distressed.

Vayling pulled a local shopkeeper
over and said to him, “Hey man, what’s going on? Why’s everyone freaking out?”

“You didn’t see anything out there?
You guys just came back from patrol right? You didn’t see anything?” he replied.

“No, what are you talking?” Hleis
asked him.

“We got a sudden order half an hour
ago from the mayor! We’re supposed to all be gathering supplies right now and
bring them to lowest level! Prepare to fortify! State of Emergency!” He
exclaimed before running off to continue his duties.

Vayling looked at Hleis. Wearing a
confused, but alarmed look on his face. “What the!? They found something!? None
of the guys at the port said anything about fortifying the town!”

Hleis, in a low voice, responded,
“Vay, this was after you left, but at the docks yesterday Traer said he
overheard the word ‘evacuation’. Sounds like they might have found something then,
not today. We have to find Traer.”

Vayling’s normally cheerful
demeanor disappeared. He gave Hleis a head nod and the two take off, running to
the center of town, heading towards the town hall where the defense force
strategic team meets.

To their surprise, three mages were
sitting outside the main entrance, helmets off. Their frustration was on
display by their body language.

Both Hleis and Vayling looked over at
them, but did not stop nor slow down as they entered the hall. Hleis looked
back and made eye contact with one of them, a rather young mage. By appearance,
she couldn’t have been much younger or older than he or Vayling, but wore an
ornate hairstyle and had vibrant golden eyes unlike the magenta eyes of the denizens
of West-Hail.

She and Hleis maintained eye
contact until the town hall broke their line of sight.

Although the exchange was a little
strange, Hleis thought nothing of it; he had no time to even begin thinking
about it, as the main hallway was littered with mages, West-Hail militia and
the scattered and panicked townsfolk. The main door at the end of the hall was
the Mayor’s office.

It was shut closed, but the entire
town hall could hear that something was going on inside.

All the other major members of town
leadership, aside from Cruntiq and the Mayor, were sitting in the main hall, waiting,
along with everyone else, for whatever was happening in there to conclude.

Traer noticed the guys before they
notice him. He waved them down, Hleis and Vayling go over to meet their friend.

“We’ve heard back from all three
teams sent out, no sign of 144, but they spotted some strange aerial
disturbances on their radars, I have no idea what it could be, probably
Mastigs, but Cruntiq does. He ordered a full lockdown of the town and for us to
make siege preparations,” Traer replied.

“144…damn…What about that thing you
mentioned yesterday?” Hleis asked,

“I think that may have been the
stirrings of what’s going on now. The mages were not aware of the lockdown
order. Cruntiq gave the order on his own, without consulting them. Right now he
and the mage captain are in the mayor’s office discussing things, but there’s
no doubt that he’s upset.”

Vayling remarked, “So that’s why
the mages are all scattered about here waiting for something.”

“I’m guessing if we’re fortifying
the town, we’re to make preparations also? Are there any orders for the defense
force? We didn’t hear anything at the dock,” Hleis said.

“Yeah, the vice captain left to
initiate a high level fortification procedure just now. The mage captain pulled
Cruntiq aside before further orders could be given though and that’s the reason
for the state of panic right now.” Traer looked around before continuing, “The
mages look like they’re waiting around as well. From the looks of things, for
our survival, I hope Cruntiq and the mages work it out all right. We’ll need to
cooperate otherwise we’ll be doomed.”

The three of them continued to
chat, keeping an eye out for the occasional messenger relaying information
about the fortification process, returning scout ships and overall supply
levels.

Suddenly the mayor’s door opened
and Cruntiq walked out with a serious look on his face. Veindelio followed
behind him.

“Veindelio, we’ll have to continue
this later, I need to oversee my town’s defenses.”

“…Fine Cruntiq, but if the Mastigs
don’t destroy us, the capital certainly may. You’ll have to deliver impossible results
against these odds,” Veindelio remarked.

Cruntiq replied while still walking
forward, “I’ve seen how this goes before. The capital wastes exceptional and
capable soldiers with their foolish tactics. They waste the resources that they
never even bother to come see with their own eyes while they spend all their
time hiding in Center-Storm.”

“Cruntiq, watch yourself.
Center-Storm is the heart of our nation. They must oversee the defense of the
entire kingdom.”

“A shrinking kingdom Veindelio…Ever
thought how strange it is that in the first five hundred years of CloudStock’s
history, we were basically undefeated against the Mastigs? When the Mastigs
were at their strongest.”

“We had the King of Legends then.
You know this.”

“A warrior king that could live
five hundred years? No, however strong he may have been individually, his real
power was creating a kingdom that could get a high level of usefulness from the
entire population. Not the wasteful recklessness that’s set in since his death
on the battlefield.”

By this point in the conversation,
the two of them had reached the main entrance. Just before exiting the
building, Cruntiq turned to face Veindelio and said, “I’ll take command of my
men, you do the same with yours, I’ll trust you to assign them where you see
fit.”

“Fine, we’ll reconvene an hour
prior to the Mastic arrival.” Veindelio replied as the two go their separate
ways.

The mages naturally flocked to
Veindelio, while everyone else gathered around Cruntiq.

He addressed the local leaders and
all those present outside the hall. “Okay, I’m sure by now everyone’s aware of
the lockdown. We’ve located a class three Mastig attack fleet. A slow moving
one, but they’re on the way to us now that they know our general direction. ETA
is around five hours. No reinforcements, we’re on our own here. We’re too far
away from any military garrison and can’t risk giving away the location of
another settlement. Help the civilians that you can, fortify and supply the
walls and take up defensive positions as directed by the strategic team. Let’s
get through this one alive alright?”